a. 1. Containing pearls; abounding with, or yielding, pearls; as, pearly shells. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. Resembling pearl or pearls; clear; pure; transparent; iridescent; as, the pearly dew or flood. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Bot.) an American everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) having foliage with soft wooly hairs and corymbose heads with pearly-white scarious involucres. Syn. -- cottonweed, Anaphalis margaritacea. [ WordNet 1.5 +MW10 ]
adj. White like a pearl; very white. Syn. -- pearly. [ WordNet 1.5 ]